Breast leaf splitting machine



Nov. 20, 1951 R. 1.. BRADLEY 7 2,575,406

BREAST LEAF SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' Z2061? for D Robert L. Brad 1 e -QB5 hzlsflfzforney Nov. 20, 1951 BRADLEY 2,575,406

BREAST LEAF SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 2 i w van for g fiober-zLBradley Nov. 20, 1951 R. L. BRADLEY BREAST LEAF SPLITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1949 ZIUGIZTOI" T4" 32 PobcriLBracl lay B his A t torney Novv1951 R. L. BRADLEY 2,575,406

BREAST LEAF SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l l l m/anfor Faber! LBmd/ey 5 his Azzornq Patented Nov. 20,1951

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BREAST. LEAF SPLITTINGIMACHINE Robert 'LJBradley, Beverly, Mass.,- assignor to i United :Shoe Machinery Corporation;/Elemington, N. J a corporation. of New, Jersey .Applicationfilune 21, 1949,"Serial No; 100,371

' 15'1lClaims. 1 "This invention relates to splitting-machines and-is illustrated as-embodied ina machine ior splitting heel breastcovering flaps from outsoles of shoes.

It is an object *of the present invention to provide-an improved machine of the well-known Empire type for-quickly andeifectively splitting without adjust-menia heel breast covering -flaps from-shank reduced outsoles of difierent sizes, irrespective of the-anglesof the shank reducing bevels'on the outsoles or the lengthwise extent-of said bevels.

With the above object in view, the illustrative machine, in accordance "with a feature of the present invention, comprises a-support for-apiece offiexible material of nonuniform thickness,- such as an outsole which has been shanlcreduced; arresilient :bracer, herein shown as a pair of leaf springs mounted upon the support and arranged between the beveled margins ofthe outsole and the support-ya presser'mem'beryaknife; and means for effecting relative movement of the support on the one hand and-the presser member, the knife andthe 'bracer ontheother hand to effect splitting of said material.

.The illustrative machine. is of substantially the same construction vas a machinedisclosed in United States LettersPatent-No. 2,118,825, granted 'May' 31, 1938 on an application. filed in the nameof Thomas 'H. seely, the support of the machine having the form of a table which is 'yield'a'ble and the presser member and the knife'b'eing mounted on a carriage movable over the table toefiect the splitting of heel breast covering flaps .from the outsoles presented successively upon the table. In order effectively-to support the'lateral margins of shank-reduced outsoles of different sizes, .the leaf springs are upwardly bowed and are mounted for sliding movement over the table and lengthwise of the outsole in response to movement of and at the same speed as the carriage, said springs serving efiectively to support progressivelythe beveled lateral margins of the outsole being split against the action of the-presser member which as above explained is mountedy'upon the carriageand moves lengthwise of the outsole together with the splitting knife.

In the drawings,

Fig. .1 is a plan viewypartly broken away and 2 1 Fig. 1 4 is i a side elevation, partly insection,=of the rear portion of the illustrative machine;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 'VV of'Fig. 3 showing, during the splitting operation, the relative positions ofthe-various machine parts-operating upon the outsole;

Figs.-6 and '7 show' an enlarged section through a sole, shown on an upper portion of line III. III of- Fig. 2, and taken during two-different portions of the flap splitting operation; and

Fig.8- shows in perspective an outsole which has been-operated upon by the -illustrative. machine.

The illustrative #machine is described --with reference to splitting from anoutsole"22,= which has-been shank reducedby beveling cuts at :(Figs. 6' and 8), a heel-breast-covering flap-'25 (Figs. 5 and 8), the central base. portion of-which-is thicker than the remaining uniformly thick portion thereof. -The flap 25 formed by the present machine may be reinforced at selected localities as above described or -maybe .of uniform 1 thickness throughout its entire extent. The beveling-cuts Z-iformedon the outsole '22 during the --shank-reducing operation-usually extend forward to a-brea-k line '26 (Fig-8) of the outsole-and rearward at least to a heehbreast line '28- of the outsole, it being common-practice, in' view of the fact that the -margin at the heel end-of theoutsole-is removed -during-a subsequent heel-seat fitting operation, -to extend the beveling cuts 24 to the rear end of the outsole as indicated by dash-finesse (Figs-8) or to terminate thebevelingcuts anywhere rearward-of said heel-breast line.

In order effectively to' split the heel-breast covering-flap 25 from-the outsole 2'2 in-a-machine which is of the'general typedisclosed said"Pa-tent No. 2,118,825 and onwhich the present -machine is an improvement, a work support or table 32 is provided with flexible leaf springs or bracers El} hereinafter described for supportingor bracing the lateralmarginsof the outsole positioned on the table against theactionof a presser member 34 and a-knife 36 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) -which-aremounted-upon a carriage 38' movable forward andthen back in a predeterminedrectilinear'path over the table. 'During the splitting operation, the flexible leaf springs or bracers 4t travelalong the table- 32 beneath the lateral margins-of the'outsole '22 mounted upon said table and serve effectively to brace said margins against the action-of the presser member 34 and the knife 36 irrespective of thesize-of the outsole andirrespecti-ve of the raised position upon the carrier 42.

of which are housed in recesses 48 in a base 48 of the machine and the upper ends of which are centered by retaining studs 50 fitting in bores 52 of the table carrier 42. Elevation of the table carrier 42 under the action of the springs 44 is limited by a plurality of threaded studs 54 (Fig. 2) which are screwed into the base 48, have shanks mounted for sliding movement in bores of the table carrier 42, and are provided with heads arranged in sockets 56 in the carrier. Slidable in inclined slots 58 formed in vertically disposed flanges of the table 32 are blocks 60 mounted upon rods 62 secured to the table carrier 42. As will be explained later, the work table 32 may be moved into diiierent heightwise operating positions upon the table carrier 42 by moving it forward or rearward thereon.

Thus, to enable the table to be pushed up these slots when the machine is at rest and during the splitting of a fiap, a header 56 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) is adjustably secured to the rear end of it by screws 68 (Fig. 1) which are threaded into said table and pass-through elongated slots 70 in the header. Secured by a setscrew I4 (Fig. 2) to the header 66, which may be considered as constituting part of the work table 32, is a pin I6 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) carrying a cam roll I8 which, when the machine is in its rest position, is engaged by a rotatable segment cam 80 secured to the top of a driven crank I08, to hold the table 32 in a The work table 32 is constantly urged rearward by spring thrust mechanism 82 (Fig. 2) which comprises a plunger 84 having its head in engagement with a cross piece of the table carrier 42 and its shank slidingly mounted in a plug 86 threaded into the header 66, a coil spring 88 surrounding the plunger being interposed between the header and the head of the plunger. The segment cam 80 moves out of engagement with the roll I8 when the knife-carrying carriage 38 reaches the forward end of its stroke, with the result that the work support acted on by the spring-pressed plunger 84 slides rearward and downward until a screw 96 (Figs. 2 and 4) threaded into the header 66 engages a face 92 of the base 46.

The carriage 38 is provided with rectilinear V- shaped notches 94 (Fig. 3) which slide along ways 96 formed upon the base 48 of the machine. By depressing the work table 32 at the end of the flap-splitting stroke of the carriage and holding it depressed during retraction of the carriage, the operator is able to remove the outsole from the machine as soon as it has been split. Just before the carriage 38 has completed its return or back movement to rest position, the segment plate 80 again engages the roll I8 and forces the work table 32, against the action of the springpressed plunger 84, forward and upward to its raised starting position shown in Fig. 2.

The carriage 38 has a bore 98 (Figs. 2 and 4) for receiving a coupling pin I which extends through a bore in a connecting rod I02. The rear end of the connecting rod I02 is pivoted upon a bushing I64 (Fig. 4) mounted upon a threaded bolt I06 which is secured in different operating positions to a rotatable crank plate I08 with its head arranged in an arcuate slot H6 formed in said plate, by a nut H2 threaded onto the upper end of the bolt. The slot III) is centered about an axis of rotation II4 ofthe crank plaw 08 and accordingly the carriage 38 is always moved in a path of a fixed extent. It will be noted, however, that the starting position of the carriage 38 may be varied in accordance with the adjustment of the bolt I06 along the slot III) but the carriage is always moved forward to the same position.

Pivotally mounted upon the crank plate I08 is a pawl II6 which is normally urged downward by a leaf spring [I8 secured to the plate. When the machine is at rest the pawl H6 is held in a raised position against the action of the spring IIB by a cam I20 which forms part of a swinging unit I22 pivotally mounted upon a pin I24 supported by the base 48. A spindle I26 which is formed integral with the crank plate I08 fits rotatably in a bushing I28 secured in a cylindrical bore of the base 48. A cap I30, which is secured to the lower end of the spindle and underlies the bushing I28, holds it against elevation therein. A worm gear I34, integral with a sleeve I32, is rotatably mounted upon the bushing I28 meshing with a worm I36 forming part of a drive shaft I38 rotatably mounted in the base 48 and driven continuously by a pulley I40. The sleeve I32 is provided with an upper flange havin three circumferentially spaced slots I42 (only one shown) formed therein. A treadle (not shown) is connected through a cable I44 to a depending arm I48 of the swinging unit I22 which may be rocked against the action of a spring I50 for causing the machine to operate and which when the treadle is released is moved by the spring to the position shown in Fig. 4 to efiect the stopping of the machine. The sleeve I32 is continuously rotated and when the unit I22 has been swung rearward the pawl H6 is no longer supported by the cam I20 and drops into one of the slots I42 thereby causing the sleeve I32 to drive the crank plate I08 and accordingly the segment cam 80. So long as the treadle is depressed the unit I22 i held in its rearward position and the machine will continue to operate. When the unit I22 is rocked to its forward position by the action of the spring I50, however, the pawl II6, as it is engaged by the cam I20, is raised out of the slot I42 of the sleeve I32. At the same time a slotted block I52 of the unit I22 is engaged by 2. depending pin I54 of the crank plate I08 to prevent further rotation of said plate. The crank plate I08 and accordingly the segment cam are thus held stationary until the unit I22 is again rocked rearward by depression of the treadle.

The work support or table 32 comprises a plate I56 adjustably secured to the main body of the support by screws I58 (Fig. 1) and a median block I60 which is secured by screws I62 to said plate and has rows of rigid prongs I64 on which the median portion of the outsole 22 is impaled during the flap splitting operation. Secured by screws I59 (Fig. 1) to the forward end of the plate I56 is a block I6I (Figs. 1 and 2) in which is rotatably mounted a manually. operated crank I63 threaded into a main portion of the work support or table 32. After releasing the screws I58 the plate I56 may be moved into different longitudinally adjusted positions with relation to the main portion 6f the work support or table 32 by rotating the crank I63, thereby adjusting the machine to vary the length of the flap split from the outsole as explained in detail in said Patent No. 2,118,825.

In order to insure that the beveled margins serrate of the ttiit'stile 22' shall "be -"eee'etive1y- 'sri-pported during the fia'p -"splitti ng operation were is mounted upon the-table '32 the above-'iiientioned outsole margin -'sup ortmg leer springs or 'bracers 4B which are *pewea upwardly and are 'slidable lengthwise of the flap along fiap upper surfaces I66 of the plate I 56. The-leaf springs M3; which are movable along said flap surfaces P66, are arranged in opposed relation to the presser member '34, which may-be referred to as a drag bar, and immediately ahead of a straight cutting edge [68" (Figs. "1, 2 am 5) "f the kh ife35 during theflap splitting operationandcenforin "to the portion of the were they engage' andinsure that the lateral margins'of the outsole shall be efictiv'ely supported against-the action of the pr sser niember so that -thelateral margins of the rap shall be of uniform thickness. The splitting knife 36-is secured to the oarriage' 38by apair-of cooperating studsc'r ews I 10 (Fig. 2') and elongated clamping 'nutsllZ thereon, and a matrix I'M which constitutes 'part'of the presser memberi l-andwhich has trunnions I75 is rotatable in bearings H6 secured to the carriage 38 by screws I18.

The presser member 34 includes -a flexible spacer 'rnelnber I80 comprising -a--pair of spring plates, the lower of which-has a trailing edge Hli (Fig; 'said edge beingio'rced against the outsole 22 during the splitting operation under pressure of the mat'rix I14. The matrix He and the-spacer mem er l80are supported'through a bracket -82 which is mounted for swinging movement together withered i84- eccentrically fulcrumed in bores [86 (Fig. 1) of the carriage 38. The bracket-182 isconstantly-urgedforward to an-idle position "shown in" Figs. '1 and 2 against-a vertically disposed end or shoulder I88 (Figl) of a slot'ina bar '90 pivotally mounted-at itsrear end on the carriage 38, by a spring-pressed plunger I92 which is slidable in -a bore 193 or the carriage and has i-ts re'ar end-attached to a spring i 94' the forward end of'which is attached to the carriage; such mechanis'm being similar to-cor're'sponding mechanism disclosed in' the above-'inen'tion'ed 'Pat'ent No. 2,118,325.

-As the-cycle of -th'e inachine pro'gresses the bracket 1 82 is swung ecun-ter-eweewise as viewed in Fig.2 against 'the" a'ctionof the spring-pressed plunger I92 until the matrix H4 and the s'pa'c'er member I 80 assume, -as illustrated in Fig. 5, their operating pos'i'ticns adjacent to thecu ttin'g edge steer the kn'ife'36, saidpcsitions being determined by the engagement of the bracket-with a face 196 (Fig. l) of the carriage.

The illustrative machine is adapted to form flaps 2 5which are'or uniform thickness or to form fiap's which are rein-forced at selected c'alities and have, for example,- bullet-shaped reinfore''ments--l'98;a't their inn'er me'dian base portions, The reinforcement I98 is formed by rotating the matrix I'M into different positions about an axis of rotation 200 (Figs. 2 and 5) of thematrixduring the forward splitting stroke ofthe carriage 38. Y

The rotation of thematr-ix l-M about the air-is 200 during the splitting stroke of -the carriage 38-is eifected-uponrotation of anarm 202 (Figs. land 2) which is secured tonne of the trunnions H5 andis operatively connected by a link2M to a lever 206,- said lever being pivoted upon a pin ZOJ-sec'u-red to the carriage 38-and-being operated by a camfollower- 2-08 (Figs. 1,-2and 4) movable among a ham 209 (-Flig'." -1-)" molmted- Onthd 6 base "48'. 'srnee the 'inechan'ism for operating the matrix I14 during the flap splitting'operation toproducea flap reinforced at selected localities is disclosed in detail in said Letters Patent No. 2,118,825 and has little if any bearingon the. present invention such mechanism need not be further described herein.

The outsole 22 is positioned lengthwise upon the table 32 with its rear endin engagement with a bifurcated gage 2I'0 (Figs. 1 and 2) which initially extends a substantial distance'abovethe plate l55-0f the table andwhich during forward movement of the carriage 38over the plate is depressed by a pair of plows 2| 2 (Fig. 2) which arese'cured to the carriage. The outsole 22 is manuallypositio'ned widthwise upon the plate I56.

The leaf springs or bracers 40 are riveted to slides 2; which carry rolls 2l8 slidable inelongated guideways 22!] (Figs. 1 and 2) of bars 222 which are secured by screws 224 (Fig. l)to the carriage 38. Mounted for adjustment into different operative positions lengthwise of the bars 222 are abutments 226 which comprise upper and lower portions and aresecured to each other and to the bars 222 by screws 230.

The abutments 226 are constructed and arranged to move the slides 2H5 rear-ward in response to rearward or retractive movement of the carriage 33 and are-so positioned that when the carriage comes to rest the leaf springs 40 attached to said slides are positioned just forward of the back gage are. As will appear later, the leaf springs so are actuated forward as the cutting edge 1580f the knife 33 starts to split the flap from the outsole. The rear ends of the guideways 22!! after a substantial lost motion engage the rolls 2l8 to move the slides 215 forward in response to forward movement of the carriage 38, the construction and arrangement being such that, during the forward flap forming movement of the carriage, the trailing edge It! of the lower plate of the spacer member I89 in order effectively to control the work is arranged approximately'above the rear ends of the leaf springs 46 (Fig. 5). The inner edges'of the leaf springs rest uponand slide forward over the fiat surfaces I of the plate I56 at the same rate that the carriage 38 is moved over said plate.

As the bowed-leaf springs Ml slide along the plate I55 in response to forward movement of the carriage 38 they are depressed by'the outsole 22 acted upon by the presser member 33 by reason of their inner edges being free to slide transversely of the table under pressure of the outso-lasaid leaf springs conforming-to the ou sole and effectively supporting the lateral marinsof the outsole against the Dresser member irrespective of the angle or the length of bevel on the outsole or the size of said outsole. Since the leaf'springs 4U assist the table 32 in supporting the outsole they-may be considered as partof the table.

The-operation of the machine is as follows. The operator places the outsole 22 upon the table 32, said outsole being centralized manually and being positioned lengthwise upon the table by the engagement of the rear end of the outsole with the gage 2123. The operator, while gripping the toe end of the outsole and holding the outsole againstthe gage, depresses the treadle (not shown) causing the cable IM tobe drawn forward and hence, through th'e mechanism above described, causing the operating.=plate 1108- to i be rotated to-effect forward movement of the carriage 38 over the table 32 to split the flap 25 from the outsole. As the carriage 38 moves forward preparatory to splitting the outsole the presser member 3a is swung counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby forcing the outsole against the table 32 and depressing said table and its carrier 42 against the action of the springs 44.

As soon as the carriage 38 starts to move toward its retracted position the table 32 drops down the slots 58 to its lowered position on the support carrier 12 and the presser member 34 swings to its position shown in Fig. 2 away from the knife 35 which is fixed to the carriage, thereby enabling the operator to remove the outsole from the machine as soon as it has been split. When the operator removes his foot from the treadle after starting the machine, the machine after the completion of one cycle comes to rest. A skillful operator sometimes retains his foot on the treadle with the result that the machine moves continuously through successive cycles, the outsoles being presented to and removed from the machine as the machine operates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a splitting machine, a support for a piece of flexible material of nonuniform thickness, a resilient bracer which is mounted upon the support and is arranged between said material and the support, a presser member, a knife, and means for effecting relative movement of the support on the one hand and the presser member, the knife and the bracer on the other hand to effect splitting of said material.

2. In a splitting machine, a yieldable support for a flexible Work piece of nonuniform thickness, a leaf spring which is mounted upon the support and is arranged between the work piece and the support, a presser member, a knife, and means for effecting relative movement between the support on the one hand and the presser member, the knife and the leaf spring on the other hand to split from the work piece a flap of uniform thickness.

3. In a splitting machine, a yieldable support for a flexible work piece having margins, portions of which are beveled, resilient bracers which are mounted upon the support and are arranged between the support and opposite lateral margins of the work piece, a presser member and a knife, and means for moving the presser member, the knife and the bracers in predetermined paths along the work piece mounted upon the support to effect splitting of the material from the work piece.

4. In a splitting machine, a yieldable support for a work piece having margins, portions of which are beveled, bowed leaf springs which are slidingly mounted upon the support and are interposed between the support and opposite lateral margins of the work piece on said support, a presser member and a knife, and means for moving the presser member, the knife and the leaf springs in predetermined paths along the Work piece, which is mounted upon the support and is depressed by said presser member and is braced by said springs, to split material from said work piece.

5. In a splitting machine for producing a flap upon stock, a portion of a margin of which is beveled, a yieldable table for supporting said stock, a splitting knife, a presser member arranged to act upon the stock in advance of the knife and by its-position with respect to the table to determine the thickness of the flap produced by said knife, means for causing relative movement between said table on the one hand and said knife and presser member on the other hand to produce said flap, a resilient bracer interposed between the margin of the stock and the table, and means for causing relative movement between the table and the bracer for progressively supporting the beveled portion of the stock in opposition to pressure of said presser member against the stock during the splitting of said stock by the knife.

6. In a flap splitting machine for operating upon outsoles which have been shank reduced, a yieldable table comprising a pronged median portion, a presser bar and a knife movable in predetermined paths over the table, a pair of yieldable bracers which are supported on said table and are arranged at opposite sides of the pronged median portion of the table, and means for moving the presser bar, the knife and the bracers over the table to split, from the heel' end of an outsole upon said table, a heel breast covering flap the margins of which are of uniform thickness.

7. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table comprising a median portion having rows of rigid prongs constructed and arranged to be engaged by thecentral portion of an outsole which has been shank reduced, a pair of conformable bracers arranged at opposite sides of said rows of prongs and normally projecting beyond said prongs, a carriage, a knife and a pressermember mounted upon the carriage, means for moving the carriage in a predetermined path lengthwise of the outsole supported by said table to cause the presser member to force the central portion of the outsole progressively against the rows of prongs of the table and to cause the lateral margins of the outsole to be forced against the bracers, said bracers being movable along the opposite sides of said rows of prongs together with the carriage progressively to support the shank reduced portion of the outsole against the action of the presser member and the knife, to cause to be split from the outsole pressed between the presser member on the one hand and the prongs and the bracers on the other hand; a flap the margins of which are of uniform thickness.

8. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table for supporting a piece of flexible stock opposite margins of which are of nonuniform thickness, a carriage, a knife, a presser member mounted on the carriage, one or more conformable leaf springs which are interposed between the table and margins of the stock and are slidingly supported on the table, and means for imparting to said carriage movement in one direction in a predetermined path and for moving the leaf springs along said table and said stock in response to movement of said carriage in said one direction to split from said stock a flap the lateral margins of which are of uniform thickness.

9. In a splitting machine, a yieldable support for an outsole lateral margins of which are beveled, a carriage, a knife and a presser mem-- hand to cause the presser member to be forced progressively against portions of the outsole which are in advance of the knife and are progressively braced by the support and by said resilient members to cause the knife to split a flap from said outsole.

10. In a flap splitting machine, a yieldable support for an outsole lateral margins of which are beveled, a carriage movable in a translatory path, a knife and a presser member mounted on the carriage, means for moving the carriage in said path with relation to the support, first in one direction from a retracted position to cause a flap to be split from the outsole by the knife and then in an opposite direction to a retracted position, said presser member being constructed and arranged progressively to engage the outsole mounted upon said support in advance of the knife during movement of the carriage and to control by its pressure against said outsole the thickness of the flap split from the outsole, and a pair of leaf springs which are positioned between the support and the lateral margins of the outsole, said leaf springs being movable lengthwise of the outsole together with the carriage and being constructed and arranged progressively to brace the lateral beveled margins of the outsole with substantial pressure against the action of the presser member and the knife during the splitting of said flap.

11. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table for supporting an outsole having beveled shank margins, a carriage, a knife and a drag bar mounted upon the carriage, means for effecting translatory movement of the table and the carriage to cause the outsole to be progressively conformed to the drag bar and to be split by the knife, said table comprising a block having sharp rigid prongs engaged by the median part of the heel end of the outsole, a pair of leaf springs which are arranged at opposite sides of the block and are shaped and arranged to maintain the beveled shank portions of the sole in transverse alinement with the median portion of the sole, and means movable in response to movement of the carriage to move the leaf springs lengthwise of the outsole just ahead of the knife during the splitting operation to insure that the lateral margins of the outsole are forced with proper pressure against the drag bar.

12. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table comprising a block having rigid prongs for supporting the median part of the heel end of an outsole which has been shank reduced, said table comprising leaf springs arranged at opposite sides of the block and constructed and arranged to be engaged by the lateral portions of the outsole, a knife for splitting a heel breast covering flap from the outsole, a presser member constructed and arranged to act upon the outsole in advance of the knife and by its position with respect to the knife to determine the thickness of the flap produced by the action of said knife, and means for effecting relative movement of the table on the one hand and the knife, the presser member and the leaf springs on the other hand to produce said flap.

13. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table for supporting an outsole which has been shank reduced, said table comprising a rigid median portion provided with sharp prongs constructed and arranged to be engaged by the central part of the heel end portion of the outsole, said table also comprising movable leaf springs which are arranged at opposite sides of said rigid median portion and are constructed and arranged to support the lateral margins of the outsole which is in engagement with the median portion of the table, a carriage, a knife and a presser member mounted upon the carriage, and means for moving the carriage together with the leaf springs over the table to cause said knife to split a heel breast covering flap from the outsole as said outsole is progressively forced against the table by the presser member.

14. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table for supporting an outsole, a carriage, a presser member and a knife mounted on said carriage, said table having a pronged median portion and flat lateral margins, leaf springs which are mounted for sliding movement over the flat lateral margins of the table, said springs having outer edges which are secured against movement laterally of the table and having inner edges which engage the table and are free to slide transversely of the table when pressure is applied to the springs, means for moving the carriage in a predetermined path lengthwise of the table, and means movable in response to said movement of the carriage for sliding the leaf springs lengthwise and along opposite sides of said table at the same speed as the carriage is moved lengthwise of the table to cause said springs progressively to support lateral portions of the outsole, movement of the carriage lengthwise of the table being effective to cause the presser member to force the outsole against the pronged median portion of the table and to force the lateral portions of the outsole against the springs and to depress the table and also to cause the knife to split the outsole controlled by the presser member, said pronged median portion of the table and the leaf springs.

15. In a splitting machine, a yieldable table for supporting an outsole opposite lateral margins of Which are of nonuniform thickness, a carriage, a knife, a presser member mounted on the carriage, one or more conformable leaf springs which are interposed between the table and the margins of the outsole and are slidingly supported on the table, means for moving said carriage in a predetermined path, and means operatively connected to the carriage for moving in response to movement of the carriage the leaf springs along a portion of said path with lost motion with relation to the carriage, said carriage when moved together with the presser member in one direction in said path causing the knife to split from the outsole engaged at opposite sides by the presser member on the one hand and the table and the leaf springs on the other hand a heel breast covering flap the lateral margins of which are of uniform thickness.

ROBERT L. BRADLEY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Kennison et a1. Aug. 12, 1941 Number 

